Washing-machine.



PATENTED SEPT. 11. 1906.

R. N. BRENT. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY27,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1' No. 830,876. PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

R. N'. BRENT. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY27, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

R. N. BRENT.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY27,1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. Imerzifor:

- is constructed of sheet metal.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed July 27, 1905. Serial No. 271,475.

To ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD N. BRENT, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Delequa, county of Las Animas, and State ofColorado, have invented a new and useful WVashing-Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in washing-machines.

The object of the invention is to provide a suitable receptacle in whichis arranged a pair of reciprocating rubbing-boards located one above theother, between which the arti cles to be washed are placed, said boardsor rubbers being moved in opposite directions with respect to each otherby arms, which are suitably connected with the crank of anoperating-shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for heating thewash water in the receptacle and for maintaining the temperature of thewater at the desired degree, the said tub or receptacle also beingprovided with means for supporting an additional tub or receptacle.

I attain these various objects by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying draw ings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of theimproved washing-machine, showing the water-heating means in positionthereon. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, showing a supportingrack,which is attached to the under side of the machine, partly withdrawn,and the heater swung so as to lie beneath the same, the said rack beingadapted to receive an ordinary clothesboiler. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view of the machine, an ordinary wringer beingsecured at one end thereof. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectionalview on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, the operating-arm for the upperrubbing-board being omitted. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of theupper rubbing-board, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the framewhich lies in the bottom of the tub and that carries rollers upon whichthe lower rubbing board slides.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 refers to the tubor receptacle, which is preferably rectangular in form and The bottomedges of the tub are reinforced by angle-bars 2, and the tub issupported upon legs 3,

which are also preferably angle-bars and are secured upon the fourcorners of the tub. One of the ends of the tub extends a short distanceabove the sides and is bent out to form an inclined plane, as shown at4. The upper portions of the legs at this end of the tub also extendabove the sides, and brackets 5 are secured thereto, which support atransverse board 6, the lower edge of which rests upon and is secured tothe inclined portion 4 of end of the tub. Upon the board 6 may beclamped a wringer 7 of any preferred type, and the water wrung from thevarious articles will be delivered again to the tub by the inclinedplane 4. A metal frame 8 of substantially the same dimensions as theinterior of the tub is placed in the tub and rests upon the bottomthereof. The side strips of this frame are each provided with a pair ofbearings 9, which are so positioned that a hearing will be located neareach end of the side rail and the bearings upon the two rails will beopposite. In these bearings are supported rollers 10, upon which reststhe lower rubbing-board or rubber 11. This rubber consists of a sheet ofcorrugated metal, to the under side of which and along each side edge issoldered or otherwise secured a rigid metal strip or track 12, whichtracks serve not only to stiffen the corrugated sheet, but rest upon therollers 10 and slide thereon. ber is of substantially the same width asthe tub, but several inches shorter, in order that it may have alongitudinal reciprocating movement therein. Above the rubber 11 islocated a rubber 13, also consisting of a corrugated metal sheet towhich is secured side strips 14, which in this instance are upon the topof the rubber.

The rubbers are formed with a plurality of perforations 15, as shown inFig. 5, so as to permit the water to pass freely through them. The sidestrips 14 of the upper rubber 13 are provided with bearings 16, havingrollers 17, preferably three on each side, and upon the rollers rest thetracks 18 of a cover 19. The strips 14 are also provided adjacent totheir ends with bolts 20, which extend up through slots 21, which extendthrough the tracks 18 and the cover, washers 22 being placed upon theprojecting ends of the bolts and split pins 23 passed through holes inthe ends of the bolts to keep the tracks 18 in bearing contact with therollers 17, so that the upper rubber may move freely beneath the coverand always parallel with it. The cover adjacent The rub-- upon the tubeby a set-screw 44, said to the batten, wh'le each of the remainingendsextends horizontally into one of a series of holes 27, formed in strips28, secured upon the ends of the tub.

The rubbers are reciprocated in the following manner: To the under sideof the lower rubber and about centrally of its length and width issecured a lug 29, to which is pivotally attached one end ofan arm 30,which extends substantially to the end of the rubbers and is pivotallyattached to the lower end of a rock-arm 31, which is centrally pivotedto a lug 32, secured to the end of the tub. The upper rubber is alsoprovided with a lug 33, to which is pivotally attached one end of an arm34, which extends up through a slot 35 in the cover. This arm is bent toform a horizontal member, the end of which connects with a pitman 36,the opposite end of which connects with a crank 37 on a driving-shaft38, which has bearings in brackets 39, secured to the end of the tub.

A balance-wheel 40 is secured to the outer end of the driving-shaft,having a handle by which the wheel and shaft are turned. The upper endof the rock-arm 31 is pivotally attached to the pitman 36 near itsconnection with the arm 34, so that the rock-arm and arm 34 are operatedby the pitman to effect the simultaneousbut opposite movements of therubbers, as will presently be shown.

Upon one side of the tub and adjacent to one of its ends are securedbearings 41, in which is loosely mounted a vertically-disposed tube orpipe 42, which extends a suitable distance above and below the top andbottom of the tub, the position of this tube being defined by a collar43, which is clamped collar resting upon the lower bearing 41. Upon thelower end of this tube is screwed an elbow, in the other end of which isscrewed a horizontal tube 45, which is provided with a plurality ofordinary gasolene-burners 46. The er end of the tube 42 has an elbow inwhich is screwed a short horizontal tube, having an elbow at itsopposite end in which is screwed a nipple 47, which supports agasolene-tank 48, having a cut-off valve 49. The tube 42 is adapted toturn freely in its bearings, so that the burners may be positionedbeneath the tub or swing to one side, as shown in Fig. 2. Upon the underedge of the tub and on that side to which the tube 42 is hinged issecured a pair of guides 50, in which is supported so as to slidetherein a substanclosed end tially U-shaped bracket 51, which ishorizontally disposed and which is provided at its with a leg 52, whichrests against the floor. The ends of this bracket are bent at rightangles, as shown at 53, to prevent the withdrawal of the bracket fromthe guides. When the bracket is drawn out, as shown in Fig. 2, anordinary washboiler may be supported thereon and the burners may beswung around so as to lie beneath the boiler and so heat the watertherein.

The operation of the improved washingmachine is as follows: The coverand upper rubber are lifted and turned up on end, the pivotal connectionof the arm 34 with the rubber and with the pitman 36 permitting of thismovement. The tub is filled to the required depth with soapy water, andthe articles to be washed are placed upon the lower rubber. The upperrubber, with the cover, is then placed upon the wash articles, and thecover is secured in the manner previously described and as shown Fig. 3.The operating-shaft is then revolved, and

'the crank 37 will cause the pitman 36 to reciprocate, which movementwill also reciprocate the arm 34, and consequently t e upper rubber, towhich it is attached. The movement of the pitman will at the same timerock the arm 31, which will reciprocate the arm 30, as well as the lowerrubber, to which the said arm is attached, but in an opposite directionto the upper rubber. The

ends of the rubbers are slotted, as shown at 54,

to permit of the movement of the lower end of the rock-arm, and thecover is also provided with a slot 55 for the same purpose. As therubbers are reciprocated the articles placed between them will bethoroughly scoured,jthe water meantime passing freely through theperforations in the said rubbers. The rollers 10 and 17 will afford asmooth and evenmovement to the rubbers, and the springs 26 will hold theupper rubber upon the wash articles with a yielding pressure, which willpermit the rubber to adjust itself to the uneven surface due to thebunching of the said articles. When the washing is completed, the watermay be drawn off through a faucet 56.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is'

1. In a washing-machine, a tub having a shaft journaled upon one endthereof, which has a balance-wheel on one of its ends and a crank on theother; a pitman attached to said crank and a rock-arm upon the end ofthe tub, the upper end of which connects with said pitman; a frameresting on the bottom of the tub having rollers thereon a rubbing-board,comprising a corrugated, perforated metal sheet, faced upon its underside edges with strips forming tracks which rest upon said rollers; anarm pivoted to the under side of the rubbing-board, and connecting withthe lower end of the rock-arm; an upper rubbing-board similar to saidlower board, having strips upon its upper side rollers, and an armpivoted edges, provided with rollers; a cover, which rests upon saidrollers; bolts secured to said board, which pass up through slots insaid cover, and receive pins, which hold the cover upon the rollers butpermit the free movement of the board, and an arm, one end of whichconnects with the pitman, while the other end passes through a slot inthe cover and is pivotally attached to the upper board. I 2. In awashing-machine, a rectangular tub, having a removable frame restingupon its bottom, which is provided with rollers; a perforated,corrugated, metal rubbingboard, having tracks which rest upon the to itsunder side; a perforated, corrugated, metal rubbingboard, above thefirst board, the side edges l of which are faced with metal stripshaving rollers thereon; a cover, which rests uponl [said rollers;springs which exert a downwar resilient pressure on said cover; and anarm pivoted to said upper board and extending up through a slot in thecover; brackets upon the end of the tub, having bearings therein; adriving-shaft in said bearing, having a crank on one end and abalancewheel on the other end, provided with an operating-handle; apitman connecting at one end with said crank and at the other end withthe arm of the upper rubbing-board; a lug upon the end of the tub, and arockarm pivoted to said lug, one end of which connects with the board,while the the pitman.

In testimony whereof I afliX in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD N. BRENT.

other end connects with my signature Witnesses:

JOHN CoINT, PETER ZUVANIOK.

arm of the lower rubbing'

